Buddhism and the Classical World
Interesting history of early buddism and their interaction with the
classical age of europe.
Buddha along with Hercules
Greek God Atlas, supporting a buddhist monument, afganistan
The interaction between Hellenistic Greece and Buddhism started
when Alexander the Great conquered Asia Minor and Central Asia in
334 BCE, going as far as the Indus, thus establishing direct
contact with India, the birthplace of Buddhism.
Alexander founded several cities in his new territories in the
areas of the Oxus and Bactria, and Greek settlements further
extended to the Khyber Pass, Gandhara (see Taxila) and the Punjab.
These regions correspond to a unique geographical passageway
between the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush mountains, through which
most of the interaction between India and Central Asia took place,
generating intense cultural exchange and trade.
Following Alexander's death on June 10, 323 BCE, his Diadochi
(generals) founded their own kingdoms in Asia Minor and Central
Asia. General Seleucus set up the Seleucid Kingdom, which extended
as far as India. Later, the Eastern part of the Seleucid Kingdom
broke away to form the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (3rd2nd century
BCE), followed by the Indo-Greek Kingdom (2nd1st century BCE), and
later still by the Kushan Empire (1st3rd century CE). The
interaction of Greek and Buddhist cultures operated over several
centuries until it ended in the 5th century CE with the invasions
of the White Huns, and later the expansion of Islam.
Some of the Edicts of Asoka describe the efforts made by Asoka to
propagate the Buddhist faith throughout the Hellenistic world,
which at that time formed an uninterrupted continuum from the
borders of India to Greece..........
...........they are claimed as recipients of Buddhist proselytism:
Antiochus II Theos of the Seleucid Kingdom (261246 BCE), Ptolemy
II Philadelphos of Egypt (285247 B.C.), Antigonus Gonatas of
Macedonia (276239 BCE), Magas of Cyrene (288258 BCE), and
Alexander of Epirus (272255 BCE).
"The conquest by Dharma has been won here, on the borders, and even
six hundred yojanas (4,000 miles) away, where the Greek king
Antiochos rules, beyond there where the four kings named Ptolemy,
Antigonos, Magas and Alexander rule, likewise in the south among
the Cholas, the Pandyas, and as far as Tamraparni." (Edicts of
Asoka, 13th Rock Edict, S. Dhammika)"
More info can be found here, once again wishes all readers an early
Happy Vesak Day! 
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/history/hellenistic.htm